Bioremediation of problematic soils through Agroforestry practices

Abstract

The review article shows the capacity of trees to maintain or improve soils characteristics shown by the high fertility status and closed nutrient cycling under natural forest, the restoration of fertility under forest fallow in shifting cultivation, and the experience of reclamation forestry and agroforestry. We can improve problematic soils using tree crops along with agricultural crops without using pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides. Soil transects frequently show higher organic matter and better soil physical properties under trees. Some species, most notably Faidherbia abide, regularly give higher crop yields beneath the tree canopy. Leguminous tree crops increases the fertility and productivity of soils.